Rapha Festive 500 2014
Last year Team Sixcycle-RK&O's Ollie Davis embarked on a Festive 500 journey that spanned three continents in just eight days. This year Ollie once again tackled the Festive 500, though he cut his travel back to just two continents. The story of that journey in words and images follows below.
Dec 24th/Christmas Eve (14 miles, Sixcycle file)
Due to a serious bout of Man Flu striking at the beginning of the week, the first ride of the Festive 500 was a short recovery spin. Hopefully several days of alcohol and cake will help the healing process.
Dec 25th/Christmas Day (37 miles, Sixcycle file)
Rode a short local loop solo and then picked up some family members for a few more miles. After heavy rain in the UK for the last week we ended up fording what was once a road but was now a small river near Bath, with floodwater up to the cranks. Each turn of the pedals meant submerging our feet, so with cold setting in we opted to cut the ride short and get home for cake instead.
Dec 26th/Boxing Day (35 miles, Sixcycle file)
Some overnight rain gave way to a beautiful morning. Rode up a favourite climb today, through 'Sally in the Wood', said to be haunted, an 'eerie place, where ‘no birds sing’', apparently.
Dec 27th (54 miles, Sixcycle file)
The flooding in the UK was slowly subsiding, but still enough to submerge a nearby rugby ground. Heading south to Faulkand on some new roads I passed Farleigh Hungerford, a 14th century castle. The exploring was rewarded as the sun came out over Wellow, a beautiful village surrounded by fields and hidden in a small valley.
Dec 28th (51 miles, Sixcycle file)
More exploring, taking a long route into Bath on some new roads. A quick shot of Bath Abbey and home.
Dec 29th (30 miles, Sixcycle file)
Last ride in the UK was a recovery with my Dad, so north to flatter terrain in Gloucester before getting on the flight back to NYC.
Dec 30th (62 miles, Sixcycle file)
Back in NYC and on our regular training ground, with River Road still hanging onto some colour.
Dec 31th (29 miles, Sixcycle file)
A few recovery laps in a cold Central Park to spin the legs out and finish up the Festive 500. Happy New Year to all!
